Bangladesh PM Hasina asks India to end Teesta deadlock

Dhaka: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today requested India to quickly resolve the deadlock over the sharing of water of the Teesta river and reciprocate the steps taken by Dhaka for further improving the friendly ties between the two neighbours.

"She (Hasina) urged New Delhi to quicken the process of signing a deal on the Teesta" when new Indian High Commissioner Pankaj Saran today met her at the premier's office, prime minister's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad told PTI.

Acknowledging that "Bangladesh and India are now enjoying better relations than ever before", Azad said the premier also urged India to "reciprocate the steps taken by Bangladesh" bettering further the friendly ties with New Delhi.

She also sought stern action against the killing of Bangladeshi nationals along the border, the spokesman said.

"She also asked India to ratify the land boundary agreement in parliament," he said.

The premier's comments came four days after Saran said New Delhi was working to solve the Teesta water-sharing issue and to sign a treaty "on priority basis" as he presented his credentials to President Zillur Rahman.

"The process of signing the pending Teesta Water Treaty is underway and it will be signed soon," a presidential palace spokesman quoted him as telling Rahman at that time.

India was expected to sign a deal with Dhaka on the Teesta during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Dhaka visit in September last year but Dhaka visibly refused to sign the proposed transit agreement after India backed out from signing the widely-expected accord on sharing the common Teesta river water at that time.